Norway, from the train!

THE BEACH...

The Beach

The sun was hot... the sand was hotter than the sun,
We went from sun-soaked sand to cool refreshing water.
You were our own personal life-guard,
Seriously studying the surging water...counting heads.

Ocean breezes caress our brows,
Memories flash and form in this love filled room,
Thinking back to that magical moment,
Every time I smell the Ocean.

You held my hand tight as we raced down the beach
So we would be the first to cross the imaginary finish line.
We slept on the way home...
Too tired to traumatize our siblings.

Those moments on the beach... frozen in my memory...
Like a picture-postcard! Precious...Inviting.
You made those moments possible,
And I am grateful.

The beach... not just a place...
But an encounter with time and tender thoughts....
An accumulation of memories of good times with you.
You wanted us to be happy... and we were...

And I am happy at this moment
as I see you smiling on the beach.

By Richard D Harris

This piece is a tribute to my mother... and to all mothers who did all they could to make summer memories for their children. Those memories live on... and fill our lives with joy.

Friends

Mary Jayne, Ingrid, Rick

We have a wonderful friend from Sweden who came to visit this weekend. Ingrid and her parents were a part of our church for many years before moving to Sweden. Ingrid is a talented lady who teaches in a local school in Sweden and has 4 handsome and intelligent boys, and a husband who is the typical quiet Swede with that dry humor. We don't see each other much, but keep in touch now and then. Two years ago my wife and I went on vacation with Ingrid and her mother, Irene, to Norway (where Irene's family is from), and saw the Fjords and all the other wonderful sights and sounds (and foods!) of Scandinavia. We had an absolutely wonderful vacation with our friends, and hope to repeat it someday.

I remember hearing that 'true friends can be counted on one hand'... and over the years, I believe that is very true. I believe it was C.S. Lewis who said that these type of friends are the kind that when you don't see them for a long time, and you begin to talk, it is as if you pick up the conversation where you left off. And that is what true friends are... they are people that you always have in your heart. You may not converse every day, you may not see each other for years at a time, but when you do meet up again, it's like you just saw them 'yesterday'!

Be glad you have a handful of friends!


(p.s., I think the C.S. Lewis quote is from "The Four Loves"... a literary scholars 'exposition' of the various Greek words for 'love.')